Announcing the sale, the organization said that it puts CBA in a stronger position to better serve members "through advocacy, events, competitive business solutions, industry publications and more." The name of the buyer and the purchase price were not disclosed.

Celebrating 10 years in 2010, the Retailers Choice Awards have been increasingly acknowledged as an important way of recognizing some of the most significant new life-changing products in the Christian retail industry.

Running through March 30, the show is hosted by Christian Retailing magazine, highlighting some of the key new and backlist products from leading suppliers. Specials from Thomas Nelson include up to a 53% discount and free freight on qualified orders.

Following Passion: Awakening were: 2. See the Morning by Chris Tomlin (sixstepsrecords/EMI CMG); 3. Tonight; 4. Wow Worship (Purple) by various artists (Word Records/Word); 5. Until the While World Hears by Casting Crowns (Beach Street Records/Provident-Integrity Distribution); 6. Pieces of a Real Heart by Sanctus Real (Sparrow Records/EMI CMG); 7. Wow Hits 2010 by various artists (Sparrow Records/EMI CMG); 8. Awake by Skillet (Atlantic/Ardent/INO Records/Provident-Integrity); 9. Throne Room by CeCe Winans (INO Records/Provident-Integrity); and 10. Breathe Deep by Guy Penrod (Gaither Music Group/EMI CMG).

The April 24 release of Women of Faith Worship--retailing for $13.99 and featuring 10 studio-recorded tracks by the Women of Faith (WoF) worship team--will be the first time Thomas Nelson will distribute music from its conference brand. The company purchased WoF in 2000, and has reported that the events--which also include Revolve teen conferences--comprise 20% of its annual operating budget.

Doug Ross, president emeritus of the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association (ECPA), who headed that organization between 1988 and 2005, recently proposed the founding of the International Association of Christian Communicators (IACC) to bring together existing media groups.